FINAL Film Trailer

Following my feedback I received on my previous trailer this is my final film trailer.

Changes to my two print tasks AND FINAL PRODUCTS

Following the feedback I received on my products these are my two final print tasks.

FINAL FILM POSTER

FINAL FILM MAGAZINE FRONT COVER

Film Poster
Following my feedback I changed my actresses names at the top to 'the producer of...' this is more effective because following a previous post its better to use an unknown actress so if they die in the film the audience wont be disappointed. I also took away the review because this is a teaser trailer and nobody has seen the film yet. I also condensed my necessary information to make it more discreet and neater.

Film Magazine
Following my feedback I took away the bubble and the image of the poster as this was too distracting from the strong main image. It also made my product look less professional.  I introduced another colour: orange to brighten up the magazine and using a three scheme colour pallet is a common convention and makes the magazine more attractive to readers. I condensed my cross to make it not too distracting and out of place. I also condensed my sell lines and main sell line to make the magazine look more neat, professional and sophisticated. I also added in minor changes like aligning everything perfectly and adding in the magazine price in dollars.

Time Management

I have until the 1st of May to have my research and planning, three products and evaluation completed with improvements.

Initial FEEDBACK before I made my improvements

I have now made these changes in order to try and boost my grade to a B

I have now made these improvements and added essential information in order to boost my grade. 

I have now made these changes to my trailer in order to increase my grade.

I have now made these improvements in order to make my grade higher.

I printed these three sheets off and made improvements to all my posts plus adding all the essential posts whilst ticking each one off. This is to increase my blog research and planning mark.

Time Management

I have until the 4th of April 2014 to make improvements from feedback and finish unfinished blog posts.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of media products?

Film Poster

I am comparing my film poster with another horror/ghost story genre film poster: The Grudge. Looking at a professional film poster I have collectively used, developed and challenged forms and conventions of real media products.

1.

 On The Grudges film poster the lead actresses name is in small simple font in a colour that is not prominent. I have included the two actresses' names on my film poster also but I have made the font bigger and in the colour red. I want some attention to be drawn to the actresses' names as this is an important feature in entices audiences to go and see a film. If an audience member is a fan of the actress listed then they may go and see the film regardless of the genre.

2.

In both these media products the title of the film is in the middle of the page on the left hand side, covering part of the main image. I have followed the same convention as the Grudge but I have made my title cover the mouth of the actress to symbolise "lies. I have also developed this convention by making the font bigger, thicker, and in more of a genre related font.

3.

I used a similar inspiration for my poster main image to The Grudge, which is spooky, haunting and creepy. I like the way the Grudge looks like she is emerging from the darkness, I tried to imitate this in my poster which is very suitable to the genre.

4.

I have included a positive quote from a popular newspaper that will entice audiences to go and see my film. I have included a visual five star rating so audiences feel they already have a recommendation to go and see my film. This would generate buzz within my target audience and hopefully would encourage people to go and see the film. This is a convention I have challenged as it is not present on the Grudge film poster. On the other hand, this convention can be found on other real life film posters, therefore this element proves popular to encourage audiences to go and watch a new film release.

Film Magazine Front Cover

Here I am comparing my film magazine front cover to a real life film magazine, EMPIRE, covering the story of the new film Sherlock Holmes. Collectively I have used, developed and challenged forms and conventions of various media product.

1.

I have used a similar technique to Empire, when quoting the main story, by putting it in a bold but simple font and placing it across the main image, over their chest. In my product, however, I have made my actresses' name the main focus as this is an exclusive interview about her inside. The title of the film stands out in it's own way, rather than being in a bigger font than her name, because it is in the special genre related font which has appeared on both the film poster and in the film trailer.

2.

Unintentionally, my main image foreshadows that of the empire magazine. Both characters have eye contact with the reader, which is very important on a magazine front cover because it engages with the reader and draws intention to whatever it is promoting. Both characters have their hands featured, in my product it is to show of the prop of the pocked watch which plays a significant role in my film. Both characters are wearing dark coloured clothing and both are wearing glasses. These two mise en scene references help indicate to the reader the genre of the films which are both; mysteries and include a murder. The glasses and the dark clothing represent seriousness and dark subjects. 

3.

I have included a small circle containing text which is also present on the real media text. This includes information to the reader that stands out from the headlines. I have used this convention to promote a free poster which will help audiences to buy my magazine.

4.

This is a convention I used after observing it on empire magazine. It is a simple indication that there are a lot of other movies inside the magazine.

Following and Challenging typical conventions

In my film trailer I followed the typical convention starting with the lighter and longer scenes and then towards the end they got darker, creepier and faster and shorter. On the other hand, however I challenged the typical convention of using a group of people in my trailer. I only used two people in order to keep the story line a cliffhanger to the audience. I also challenged the convention of not seeing the "ghost" in a trailer and only revealing this in the actual film. In my trailer I showed  my ghost (mime) a few times in short clips. This is because I wanted my audience to be frightened by the trailer and hopefully this would entice them to see the film. 

2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

Example of my target audience...

Here, I asked this question to my friend Lucy, who also stars in my film. She is a representation of my target audience.
I wanted to make sure my three products looked like a package so I made sure I used the same actors across all three platforms.
I also used the same font and colour for my title of my film and used this on the main product and ancillary texts. This title will then be more memorable for the target audience and will hopefully entice them to go and see the film when it comes out.
I used a different colour scheme, two different main images for my two ancillary texts and two different actresses, therefore, I needed to make them look like they were part of the same package. I overcame this by including a small screen shot of my poster on my film magazine front cover. I enticed the target audience further by including this as a free poster inside the magazine, I also used the buzz word "FREE" which encourages people to take notice of the magazine when it is placed on the shelf.
For the text that appears on my trailer I used a simple black background and white text combination. I also used this monochrome colour scheme on my film poster. I used a similar effect on my film magazine front cover but instead of using black and white I used a grey background with white text. This colour scheme being consistent across both platforms helps to bring my work together as a package and helps with the professional outlook of the product all together.


REAL PACKAGES

film poster

film magazine front cover

In both images she is wearing the same costume and the same makeup. This instantly brings the package together. The colour scheme of red, black and white across both platforms also brings this package together.
In my two print tasks I did not use the same image but I did use a similar colour scheme and the prop she is holding on my magazine is featured in my trailer.

3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?

Film Magazine Front Cover

I asked two members of my target audience what they liked about my film magazine front cover. (An image of this is displayed on my phone they are holding)
Sorry for the background noise, I asked them in college.

What I have learned

I have learned that my target audience members like the text and the font on my front cover and also the contrasting colours. They like the simple but effective technique that I used to make my magazine look professional and sophisticated. The layout demonstrates and appeals to the target audience which is also very important.

Film Poster

I asked three members of my target audience what they liked about my film poster, how professional the final product looked and what appeals to them most on the film poster.

What I have learned

My target audience enjoy the colour scheme and the contrasting colours. They like the title going over the mouth of the main image which is something I deliberately included. They also like the creepy font and layout because this demonstrates the genre well to the target audience.

Film Trailer

Here I asked one of my target audience what they liked about my film trailer and what parts were particularly sinister.

What I have learned

That the music is very important and this creates tension and the scary atmosphere to my trailer. That a cliff hanger is very important as people wont want to see the film if they can guess the story line and ending from the trailer. The hanging scene is effective and unique.

4. How did you use new media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?

• I used Adobe Premier Pro to create my teaser trailer and I used a video camera to film my trailer.
• I used Photoshop for the two ancillary tasks
• I used Prezi for the research and planning and Blogger.
• I used a video camera for my evaluation stage plus blogger.

• Adobe Premier Pro

I did not use this Software last year in media studies. At first I found this software difficult and confusing to work but after a few practises my confidence grew and I was able to edit sound, images and fit my clips together to produce a teaser trailer for my film.
I practised using this software before moving on to my trailer by creating a SHOT TYPES montage, a SIMPSONS teaser trailer and then a short film.
I used the different editing TOOLS for example DIP TO BLACK to keep up with the dark setting and to fade certain scenes into each other.

• Video Camera
  
  I had not used a video camera last year and I had to practice different SHOTS for example PAN SHOT, EXTREME CLOSE UP, WIDE SHOT, ESTABLISHING SHOT. These are all shots that I incorporated into my film trailer to give a variety of different shots.

• Photoshop

I used Photoshop last year to produce my products but this year I felt more confident and experienced when using the different tools to edit and manipulate the image. I used the BLUR tool to soften and airbrush her face to make it more supernatural. I edited the BRIGHTNESS AND THE CONTRAST to manipulate the image to how I wanted it. On my magazine I used the transparent tool to make certain things less opaque, this is a professional tool used on real life magazine front covers.

• Prezi
  
  This was my first time using Prezi to create my Pitch, which I presented to the class. I found this easy to use and easy and effective to present. Each slide is set out different to create variation in your presentation. 

• Blogger
  
  I used blogger last year but this year I tried to take full advantage by uploading screen shots, videos, images, sounds, hyperlinks to create an effective and detailed blog. 

Target Audience Feedback

In lesson, we sat at a peers computer and watched their trailer and observed their two axillary tasks. We then gave them good points and areas for improvement on a sticky note and then moved to the next computer.
Here is my feedback...

Time Management

I will complete my Evaluation by the 10th of March.
I have two weeks to complete four questions using a variety of media platforms.

I also need to complete three blogposts on two sets of deconstructions, past students work and outfits and props that I featured in my film trailer.

Evaluation Questions

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of media products?

2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?

4. How did you use new media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages?

I will answer these questions using various media technologies...

Film Trailer - Hidden Lies

This is my first film trailer product, after I received feedback from my teacher I made changes in order to improve my grade.

FEEDBACK

• Change the production logo at the beginning to a black background and white text to match the rest of the text screens in throughout the trailer.
• Remove some unnecessary scenes to make my trailer a little shorter and to make the scenes changes quicker.
• Remove the scene where all three actresses are looking at the camera to avoid confusion to the audience.
• 
  

Magazine Front Cover and Film Poster

FILM MAGAZINE FRONT COVER

FEEDBACK I received on my film magazine front cover

This was my first finished product of my film magazine front cover. After I received my feedback I made various changes in order to improve the product and the grade.

The Feedback I received from my teacher was...

• Change the hidden lies font to a normal font and not the film font.
• Make my sub headings closer together.
• Take out the added poster image and the bubble as this is too distracting from the strong main image.
• Make the plus smaller and wider.
• 
  

FILM POSTER

FEEDBACK I received on my film magazine front cover

This was my first final product of my film poster. After I received feedback I made some adjustments and improvements to boost the grade of my product.

The Feedback I received was...

• To take out the review quote because this is a teaser trailer nobody has seen the film yet because it is just being introduced.
• make my logo smaller and add in more film logos, small at the bottom.
• 
  

Sound and Video editing

I edited my film trailer on Adobe Premiere Pro. As well as editing my clips to a certain size I also added in text boxes to carry important information to the audience; the actresses names', the title of the film, the release date (coming soon), the credits, the two taglines and the website and Facebook page.

I also edited the video clips and the audio.

• Dip to black
• Exponential fade
• Film Dissolve

I used the "dip to black" between scenes to keep the mood dark and mysterious but also to make the film trailer flow continuously throughout the clips.

Here I turned down the brightness of the garden because when I filmed it was in bright day light. I turned the brightness down to in keep with the sinister effect of the film trailer. I also turned down the background noise to make the film music the main focus.

I used audio transitions to blend the music better which makes the trailer flow and appear professional. This are called Exponential Fades and I have used this at the beginning of my trailer to introduce the music and I have used this at the end of my trailer to run off the music gently so the trailer is not coming to a sudden stop.

Music choices and copyright

These are two music instrumentals that I found on YouTube.
They are creepy, intense and will set the mood for my ghost story trailer.
I will use around 30 seconds from one of these instrumentals in the creepy scenes of my trailer, which will feature at the beginning of my film trailer.

This is part of the GRUDGE soundtrack. I will use part of this instrumental for the second half of my film trailer. The second half of my film trailer is the most intense and scary, therefore this music fits perfectly and compliments the scenes occurring in my trailer.




This is a screen shot of the letter I sent to ask for permission to use the grudge's music.

Scenes in my Film Trailer

Like in all film trailers I used a selection of clips of different lengths. Some clips I used in chronological order and some I moved around to avoid telling the full story and giving away the main just to the audience. I used shorter and faster clips when I wanted a more intense reaction.

The Deconstruction of 3 Film Posters

Deconstruction 1 - The Grudge

Description of the main image
Extreme close up of what looks like a demon. She has green skin and black hair symbolising death. Her eyes are widened giving a freaky and chilling effect. 

Is there more than one image? Why?

Only one strong image as two images would be less effective and take away the impact of this image.

Layout

Main image is central slightly to the right. Essential information and film title is to the left. This gives an even composition.

Colour Scheme
Black, red and white colour scheme. This is a generic colour scheme for horror films and posters.

Font
The font is simple and easy to read but has a sketchy effect to add to the sinister and chilling tone.

Tagline
Raises many questions on who is it? and what has it forgiven and what wont it forget? It is simple but very effective to entice the audience with questions. They will go and see the film to find out the answers.

Who is mentioned in the poster? 
One actress's name who is usually in horror style films. She is the main character.

Description of Film Title
Simple yet effective. Raises the question what is the grudge and what has happened in the past? It carries negative connotations.

How is the necessary information placed?
Discretely and hard to read because the audience are not interested in reading this information.

Genre? How do you know?

Horror, due to the dark colours, tagline and the film title.

Connotations/ effect of text

Gives the audience a chilling feel and attracts them into going to see the film if this is the type of genre they like.

Deconstruction 2 - The Woman in Black

Description of the main image
A frightened and serious tone on the main characters face. A ghostly image in the background.

Is there more than one image? Why?

2 Images to show that this is a ghost story.

Layout

2 main images with three separate texts and necessary information at the bottom in a much smaller font.

Framing

Daniel Radcliffe to the left and everything else to the right which balances out the poster nice and evenly.

Colour Scheme

3 scheme of blue white and black. These colours are again generic horror film colours.

Font
The text spreads with a beam of light which gives a supernatural and ghostly effect.

Tagline
This is a question which the target audience rhetorically ask themselves. This is a good way to entice the audience into this film.

Who is mentioned in the poster?

Daniel Radcliffe, who is a very popular actor. This is his first film after the famous harry potter franchise so many people will want to see him playing a role they arent used to watching.

Description of Film Title

Negative and dark connotations. Black symbolising death and mystery. This raises the question who is the woman? and why is she important?

How is the necessary information placed?

Discretely and small.

Genre? How do you know?

Due to the dark colour scheme, the ghostly image, the tagline mentioning ghosts. The genre is very obvious.

Deconstruction 3 - What Lies Beneath

Description of the main image
A hand creeping over the side of the bath.

Is there more than one image? Why?

Only one image to give all the focus to this image.

Layout

Image on the bottom of the screen and text above this.

Framing

text and main image is to the right of the poster, this gives an un even balance to the film poster. This obscurity reflects the genre.

Colour Scheme

White background and bath and black text. This is a unusual colour scheme for a horror as the lighting is bright. This could reflect a happy ending?

Font

A simple text with a type writer style. It is clear and easy to read.

Who is mentioned in the poster?

The two main characters, they are famous so their names get mentioned so any audience who are a fan of them will go and see the film, despite the genre.

Description of Film Title

A scary and chilling thought. This raises the question to the audiences and attracts them in going to see the film.

Genre? How do you know?

Horror/thriller by the main image and the film title. The colour scheme throws you off a bit initially however.

Storyline to my horror/ghost story film

The story starts with three sisters living together, getting along perfectly fine. It is not obvious to the audience but it is hinted that one of the sisters is plotting a sinister plan. Suddenly to the family, the sister named Lucy commits suicide by hanging herself, or so the audience thinks. Years later the sister named Sophie is subtly haunted by what seems to be a ghost and leaves creepy clues around the house regarding her sisters death. The ghost is Lucy and she is trying to unveil the real facts about her death and, shockingly to the audience, Sophie finds she did not commit suicide but she was murdered by the third sister!

Behind the Scenes

This is how I created this frightening and crucial scene in my film trailer...

I wanted to give the illusion of a hanging scene, after trying numerous ways to suspend my actress in the air, I decided this way ^^ was most effective and safe.
I rested an exercise bar in the gap of the loft, had my actress climb up the stairs and hang from the bar.
HEALTH AND SAFETY: I made sure someone was standing in the loft to make sure the bar did not slip. Then I used my second actress to observe from the bottom.
With the lights turned off and with my actress slightly swaying forwards and backwards it gave a successful, chilling, "hanging" scene.

The Deconstruction of 3 Film Magazine Front Covers

Deconstruction 1 - EMPIRE 

Composition: (overall design/ layout) The overall design is both very dramatic and very powerful which reflects the genre of the film. It also appeals to women as they will find the male attractive and appealing and will appeal to male audiences because it is a generic Hegemonic male which many men aspire to be like.

Text - The text is bold and dramatic to fit in with the genre of the film and to also appeal to a male audience. It also stands out and gives the impression it is shouting at the audience but in a positive way.

Colour - The colour scheme is white, navy and red. Stereotypically these are more male oriented colours which suits the target audience well as they will mostly be male. 

Body Language/Staging - The male on this front cover is standing in a masculine pose, with a stern and serious look on his face. He is flexing his muscles which signifies strength and masculinity. This will appeal to the main target audience of men because often characters like this will be an inspiration to boys/men and they will want to look like him.

Framing - The main character in the film 'wolverine' is in the central park of the page. People buying this magazine will probably like this film or want to go and see this film because it is the main article inside the magazine. Therefore the target audience will enjoy the main character being the main focus so they know there is going to be a lot of reference about the film inside the magazine.

Lighting - The background is in darkness with a dark blue colour gradient and a bright white light in the background. The main focus is on the main image, the man. He has the brightest light shone upon him so he stands out the most on the page.

Font - All of the font on the front cover is in capitals. This gives a loud and attention grabbing effect, almost like the page is shouting at you, for your attention. This appeals to the target audience as the magazine front cover is stereotypically aimed at males because of the action films featured. Male oriented magazines have a 'manly' effect about them and the capitals represent; strength, boldness and loudness, which are all stereotypically male connotations.

Deconstruction 2 - FILM

Composition: (overall design/ layout) The overall design is very mystery, magical and fantasy like. This is through the use of orange and purple and fairy tale inspired makeup. These conventions also reflect the genre of the film.

Text - The text is minimalistic in order for the main image to raise questions and do all the talking. It includes 'buzz' words like FREE and MASSIVE to attract audiences to this magazine.

Colour - The colours of purple, white, yellow and orange are stereotypically feminine colours. 

Body Language/Staging - The fact that there is a rabbit on the front cover immediately appeals more to a feminine audience. Males, stereotypically would not be attracted to a fluffy rabbit on a magazine front cover.

Framing - The main character is central in a medium shot (usually the case for most front covers)

Lighting - The spotlight is on the main image so he stands out on the dark background and also to show he is the main character of the film.

Font - The text is simple and mostly white which stands out on the dark purple background. It is easy and clear to read which is important for readers who want to find out more about the film due to the interesting main image.

Deconstruction 3 - FILM

Composition: (overall design/ layout) - The overall design is very dramatic and powerful which reflects the genre of the film. It will entice the audience to go and see the film as they will want to see some dramatic and unique action and the film will want to be more successful than the previous films in the franchise.

Text - The text about Harry Potter are in the biggest fonts and the other information is in a much smaller font. This signifies that this magazine is centered around the release of the final Harry Potter film. The target audience will be males and females and people who love the Harry Potter franchise. 

Colour - This magazine front cover follow a three shade colour scheme of red, white and grey. These three colours appeal to both male and female audiences which is essential because the target audience for Harry Potter is both males and females. The red signifies danger and the black behind it signifies death and mystery.

Body Language/Staging - Harry is standing in a heroic posture and since he is the only one on the page it signifies that he is the main character and possibility the hero.

Framing - Harry Potter is in the centre of the cover, infront of any text on the page, this makes him the main focus.

Lighting - The main image stands out due to the background lighting. The lighting behind him is dark and fierce with the red and the black signifying danger. The spotlight on him shows he is the hero.

Font - The font is in lower case apart from the title, Harry Potter. This makes this the main focus on the front cover and will attract the target audience who love the Harry Potter franchise. 

The Deconstruction of 3 Film Trailers

Deconstruction 1 - Willow Creek

Film Festivals and Indie Films - (2013)
Jim and his girlfriend Kelly are in Willow Creek, California, to retrace the steps of Bigfoot researchers Patterson and Gimlin, who, in 1967, recorded the most famous film of the legendary monster. Kelly is a skeptic, along for the ride to spend time with her boyfriend between acting gigs. Jim, a believer, hopes to capture footage of his own, so his camera is constantly rolling.

This trailer is presented in a documentary style and a home video style. This is effective as it adds to the realism therefore pretentiously making it more frightening to the audience. You can tell by the trailer than this film is a independent film and not made by Hollywood. There is not special effects or big studio settings. 

Deconstruction 2 - What Lies Beneath

Dream Works and 20th Century fox - (2000)
The wife of a university research scientist believes that her lakeside Vermont home is haunted by a ghost - or that she's losing her mind.

This film follows the usual rule to horror/ghost story trailers. In the beginning the scenes are shot at day time in natural light and the characters are living their lives in a normal day to day setting. Then as the trailer continues the mood and setting changes to quicker, fast paced shots and scared expressions on the characters faces. This creates the intensity for the audience and makes them want to go and see the film.

Deconstruction 3 - Orphan

Warner Brothers - (2009)

A husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she claims to be.

This trailer follows a similar style and structure to "what lies beneath" in the fact that at the beginning there are scenes where the genre of horror is not present and the characters are going along with their normal and everyday lives. The music then changes and the trailer gets dark, ghostly, and intense with the fast paced scenes and the creepy music.

This is a similar structure I want to follow in my film trailer. I also want to use more than one instrumental, the second instrumental being the more frightening one to build suspension.

Photos I didn't use and why

Poster Image

This image has very bad lighting and therefore loses detail in her face making the image look less professional. The image quality is not strong enough, therefore if I applied editing to the photograph in photo shop the quality would decrease further and the image would look any professional or frightening impact and would not look successful to the audience.

Magazine Front Cover image
This image has too much red lighting and has been taken too far away. The image looses its impact not being that close to the model. The red lighting is distracting.

This image does not feature the hood which I find to be very effective. I like the shadowing of the face which gives a dramatic effect although I dont feel there is much expression in the face to carry enough impact for the front of a film magazine.

Costumes, Make-up and Props

This is the video camera I will use to film my film trailer. 

This is the black and white top the mime wears in my trailer and on my film poster.

This is a necklace prop that will feature on my magazine front cover and my film trailer. 

This is the camera I used to take images for my film poster.